Varicella zoster virus

Causes chicken pox. Highly contagious, generalised vesicular rash. Most common in children. One episode develops immunity to the virus.

Patients become symptomatic 10 days to 3 weeks after exposure. They stop being contagious after all the lesions have crusted over - usually around 5 days after rash appears 

The virus can lie dormant in the sensory dorsal root ganglion cells and cranial nerves and reactivate later in life as shingles or Ramsay Hunt syndrome

• Conservative management - lotion and antihistamines for itching.
• Children should be kept off school and avoid pregnant women and immunocompromised people until not 

 

Pregnancy

Those who are known to be immune are not at risk.

• Chicken pox in pregnancy before 28 weeks gestation can cause development problems in the foetus - congential varicella syndrome.
• Varicella zoster immunoglobulins can be given to protect against the virus after exposure.
• Aciclorvir can also be considered within 24 hours of exposure